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Cheers go out from skiers and boarders riding the first chair of the winter Thursday morning at Mammoth Mountain. (Photo by Peter Morning/Mammoth Mountain Ski Area)

Let the skiing and snowboarding begin!

Mammoth Mountain opened Thursday morning for the 2014-15 winter season with some snowy weather – hopefully a preview of the months ahead. Flurries added to the 12-16 inches of natural and manmade snow already at the resort.

Broadway Express was running with access to Broadway and Upper Main Park. The Unbound Terrain Park crew set up 10 jibs and one jump in Upper Main Park, which was quickly filled with freestyle skiers and snowboarders.

After first chair, Greg Dallas, Mammoth Mountain’s COO, offered his greetings: “Thank you for being here and sharing the excitement and passion of opening day with us. … Here’s to a great year!”

Dust off your skis and snowboards, call your friends, and start this season off right. Mammoth Mountain is kicking off opening day on Thursday with its traditional Broadway Express banner breakthrough and annual beer toast. Enjoy live music, food, and drinks on the Main Lodge sundeck during the day, contests in the park and more.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

1-4pm – Live music on the Main Lodge Sundeck7-10pm – Giro Season Opener: Pathology Film Premiere hosted by Giro Snow at Campo Mammoth

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15

11am – Hang out in Main Park featuring the Mophie Jam, 32 TF debut, DJ in the Monster DJ booth and specials at the Little Mill1-4pm – Live music on the Main Lodge Sundeck6:30pm – Eastside K9 Fundraiser: Days of My Youth movie viewing at Canyon Lodge

Mammoth Lakes welcomed about a foot of new snow over the weekend, and it couldn’t have come at a better time because Mammoth Mountain Ski Area opens for the winter in 10 days. Peter Morning braved the cold to take some great pics of the white stuff coming down. A sampling…

Mammoth’s snow-making operations get help from Mother Nature at the Broadway Express lift.

Dust off those skis and boards and get ready to kick off the winter season in classic Mammoth style. November 13 is just around the corner and there will be plenty of events, parties and snow shenanigans for everyone.

Opening Day festivities begin with a traditional “First Chair” celebration and banner breaking at Broadway Express followed by a beer toast on the sundeck. As the sun goes down, head to Wave Rave for the premier of Snowboarder Magazine’s new movie “Foreword.”

Introducing the Cali4nia Pass, the best thing to happen to California skiing since stretch pants. The Cali4nia Pass gives you unlimited and unrestricted access to Mammoth Mountain, Bear Mountain, June Mountain and Snow Summit for $689. From a quick getaway to Big Bear to a full family vacation at Mammoth, we’ve got you covered. Every style, every skill level and everyone is invited.Plus, the Cali4nia Pass offers amazing perks like discounted tickets for friends, special early mountain access, and savings on food, lodging, equipment rentals and more.

Bear Mountain, a popular place for snowboarders, is one of two resorts being acquired by the owner of Mammoth Mountain. Snow Summit also is part of the deal announced this morning. (Big Bear Mountain Resorts photo)

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, owner of Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain, has entered into an agreement to acquire Big Bear Mountain Resorts, which operates both Bear Mountain and Snow Summit in Big Bear Lake. The two SoCal ski and snowboard resorts host nearly 800,000 visitors every winter.

The combination of these four iconic California mountain resorts creates diverse and unique offerings of both summer and winter experiences for day trips, weekend getaways and extended vacations, resort officials say. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit offer a full complement of outdoor activities from action sports to first-time family experiences, making it an excellent fit with the world class, big-mountain destination experience offered at Mammoth, they added.

“We couldn’t be more excited to enter into this agreement with Big Bear Mountain Resorts. These two uniquely Southern California resorts have been providing great skiing, riding and biking experiences to visitors from California and beyond. Millions have enjoyed their first mountain resort experience on the slopes of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, and we look forward to expanding upon the legacy that Dick Kun and his people have created over the past six decades,” said Rusty Gregory, chairman and CEO of Mammoth Mountain.

“This acquisition represents the beginning of a renaissance for both Mammoth and Big Bear and is the first step in the next era of skiing and riding in California. In the coming months we will be announcing exciting new development and expansion plans for each of our four resorts designed to attract visitors from down the street, across the country, and around the world,” he added.

Mammoth has announced a new season pass that includes unrestricted access to all four mountains at $689 for adults. The new Cali4nia Pass will go on sale at the Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails event at Bear Mountain on Saturday, and then will be available online at www.snowsummit.com and www.Cali4niaPass.com.

“The Cali4nia Pass will cut through the clutter in the market by providing the most diverse set of resort options available in California by allowing you to ski where you want, when you want and as often as you want,” Gregory said.

This transaction will create one of the nation’s largest ski companies with more than 2 million visitors per year.

Dick Kun, the driving force behind skiing and riding in the Big Bear region and long-time CEO of Big Bear Mountain Resorts, said, “Mammoth has always been the natural long-term fit for the Big Bear family and we are thrilled to enter this agreement. I am deeply grateful to the employees, shareholders, and the Big Bear community for their work and support during the 63 years of our operations.

“Mammoth’s experience and leadership will ensure that Southern Californians will continue to enjoy recreating in the local mountains and will undoubtedly bring in a new era of experiences and opportunities for all of our constituents.”

OK, everyone, say “cheese!” … This was the scene at Mammoth Mountain on Memorial Day, the last day of skiing and snowboarding at the resort for the season. (Mammoth Mountain photo)

At Mammoth Mountain, skiers and snowboarders bid farewell to the 2013-14 snow season with a group shot on Memorial Day. … We’ll recap the season at Mammoth and many of the other California resorts shortly. Stay tuned.

Believe it or not, this is not a file photo from December. It was shot this morning — on April 25 — at Squaw Valley. (Squaw Valley photo by Hank DeVre)

By Jerry Rice

If April showers bring May flowers, what do April snowstorms bring? Skiers and snowboarders, of course.

Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain — the only California resorts still open for the winter season — are all reporting fresh snow. And lots of it.

Since the white stuff starting falling early this morning, Squaw and Alpine have received at least 16 inches, while Mammoth is close behind with about 15 inches. The snow is expected to continue well into the evening, bringing a welcome late-season thick blanket of fresh powder to the slopes at all three resorts.

Alpine Meadows will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays into May. Info: www.skialpine.com

Update: The last time Squaw Valley received this much snow in 24 hours in late April was in 2011. “As you can imagine, this amount of fresh snow is certainly a late-season treat for skiers and riders who are still thirsty for powder,” says Melissa Brouse, resort spokeswoman.